The Social Stigma of Psychosis and Addiction: Breaking the Silence
- Collective Care
- Oct 8
- 5 min read
By Collective Care Pune
Mental health and addiction are often shrouded in silence. Despite advances in treatment and growing awareness globally, people living with psychosis and addiction still face deep‐rooted stigma—within families, communities, workplaces, even among healthcare providers. At Collective Care Pune, we believe in breaking this silence. We believe in hope, compassion, and recovery—not shame.
What is Stigma, and Why Does It Hurt So Deeply?
Stigma around mental illness and addiction comes in many forms:
Social stigma: the negative stereotypes, judgments, or prejudiced attitudes held by society. People seen as “dangerous,” “unreliable,” or morally weak.
Self‐stigma: when those struggling internalize these beliefs—feeling shame, guilt, or believing they are less worthy.
Structural stigma: policies, institutional practices, or social systems that disadvantage people with psychosis or addiction (in employment, healthcare access, etc.).
These stigmas discourage help‐seeking, worsen isolation, reduce self‐esteem, impair recovery. Studies show that many people with addiction identify stigma as a significant barrier to seeking treatment. In the case of substance use disorders, internalized stigma (shame etc.) is tied to worse mental health outcomes and lower retention in care. And for psychosis, stigma makes people delay help, which can worsen prognosis.
How Stigma Operates in India and in Pune
While stigma is global, it has local forms. In India:
Addiction often gets viewed as a moral failing or a character flaw rather than a treatable health issue.
Psychosis and other severe mental illnesses are misunderstood, feared, or misattributed to supernatural causes.
Family shame, community gossip, and the fear of social exclusion can keep people from speaking up or seeking help.
Even within medical settings, people report being treated “like criminals” rather than patients deserving compassion.
In Pune and Maharashtra, growing awareness and mental health services help—but stigma remains a major obstacle.
Why Breaking Stigma Matters
Early intervention leads to better outcomes. Delays in seeking help for psychosis are associated with more severe symptoms and worse long-term functioning.
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition but also treatable. When people postpone or avoid treatment due to stigma, the risks escalate.
Social support, community understanding, and family involvement are powerful protective factors. They reduce internalized stigma and improve recovery potential.
Collective Care Pune: Our Approach to Healing & Breaking the Silence
At Collective Care Pune, we aim not only to provide care but to transform how people feel and are treated—inside and outside our centre.
Personalised Rehab Plans at Collective Care
Every person’s journey is unique. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. When you come to Collective Care, we:
Conduct a detailed assessment of your physical health, mental health, substance history, social situation, personal goals and strengths.
Work with you (and when possible, with your family) to design a plan that fits you—whether it's outpatient support, detox, inpatient stay, therapy, or combinations thereof.
Adapt continuously: progress, setbacks, feedback all guide tweaks to your plan.
Evidence-Based Therapy for Addiction
Our therapies are grounded in scientific research:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): helps you understand and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): focusing on values, mindfulness, reducing self-stigma and shame; shown effective in reducing internalized stigma and encouraging recovery.
Narrative therapies & psychoeducation: helping you reframe your story, separate identity from illness or addiction, understand mental illness. For psychosis, interventions like Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) are effective in reducing internalized stigma.
Family therapy and engagement: involving loved ones for support, education, and rebuilding trust.
Rehab Centre with Mental Health Expertise
We integrate addiction treatment with mental health care. Many people with addiction also have underlying or co-occurring mental health conditions (psychosis, depression, anxiety, etc.). Our center has psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, counseling psychologist, trained in mental health workers—so care isn’t siloed. When psychosis or other complex psychiatric issues are present, we address both simultaneously.
What Happens in a 30-Day Rehab Program?
Here’s a typical 30-day inpatient program at Collective Care:
The goal is not just detox or “holding space” but equipping you with tools, insight, support, and a plan so you can return to daily life more resilient.
Signs You or Your Loved One Needs Rehabilitation
Sometimes it’s hard to see. Here are warning signs that rehab may help:
Increasing dependency: needing more of the substance or behavior to achieve earlier effects.
Loss of control: inability to stop or reduce use despite wanting to.
Neglecting responsibilities: work, studies, family or social obligations suffering.
Isolation or avoidance: withdrawing from friends/family; engaging in use alone; hiding the behavior.
Mental health symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, severe mood swings; or depression/anxiety worsening.
Physical health decline: weight loss/gain, sleep disturbance, neglect of hygiene.
Failed attempts to quit: repeatedly trying and relapsing; feeling trapped.
Risky behaviors: unsafe practices, self-harm, harming others, legal or financial troubles.
If any of these resonate, it's not a failure—it’s a signal that support could make a big difference.
What to Expect at Collective Care Rehab Centre
When you choose to come to Collective Care, here’s what we promise:
Safe, Non-Judgmental Environment We treat every person with dignity. Your past doesn’t define you. Confidentiality, respect, empathy are foundational.
Holistic Care Physical health, mental health, social/emotional support, spiritual or cultural dimensions if you want them—all part of the plan.
Skilled Multidisciplinary Team Psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, peer support, —all collaborating on your care.
Support for Family & Loved Ones We include families in education and therapy (if appropriate), because recovery often involves repairing relationships, communication, trust.
Continued Aftercare Rehab isn’t over after 30 days. We help with relapse prevention, ongoing therapy, support groups, community reintegration.
Flexibility & Personalisation Some people may need more intensive psychiatric care. Others may benefit more from counselling or vocational rehab. We adjust.
Breaking the Silence Together: Your Role & Ours
Stigma is not someone else’s problem—it belongs to all of us. Here’s what you can do:
Speak in respectful, person-first language: say “a person with schizophrenia” rather than “schizophrenic.”
Educate yourself and others: mental illness and addiction are health issues, not moral failures.
Share stories of recovery: visibility helps reduce fear and misunderstanding.
Support policies and services that integrate mental health and addiction care.
If you know someone suffering, reach out with empathy—not judgement. Let them know help exists.
At Collective Care Pune, our commitment is to walk beside those who are suffering—not behind shame, and not ahead putting demands. We believe in collective care. Because recovery isn’t just personal—it’s social, relational. When a person recovers, their family, their community benefit too.
In Conclusion
Psychosis and addiction are among the most stigmatized issues in mental health. But stigma can be challenged. With evidence-based therapies, professional mental health expertise, personalized rehab plans, and compassionate centres like ours, recovery is possible. And breaking the silence—speaking honestly, treating people with dignity—may well be one of the most powerful medicines.
If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out. You deserve care. You deserve hope. You deserve recovery.
